Why can't I become a sponsor?

[Sam Gnagey]

A couple years ago I lost the credit card I was using to maintain my sponsorship. I cancelled it. I didn't make the connection for some time that my sponsorship had lapsed. About 6 months ago when Sean posted his admonition about using the FS forum for commercial purposes I checked my status and found that I was no longer a sponsor. I contacted him immediately and ask to re-up my sponsorship. No reply.

About a month ago Schlepparello, the moderator, took down an ad that I had put up for a Jupiter 582 BBb that I wanted to sell, because someone had complained that I wasn't a sponsor and this was not my personal instrument. (A point of fact is that I do own it personally. Maybe that's just a technicallity in this case.) I contacted Schlep with the same request to re-up. He told me that he wasn't able to make that happen, that Sean was out on tour and would handle it when he returned. No reply.

I wrote Sean again. No reply.

OK, folks. I think this is a great forum. I don't have a problem with doing my part in supporting it. If any of you have influence with Sean, please encourage him explain to me if there is something I'm missing here that's keeping this process from going forward. I believe that I'm at least due an explaination if I've been banned from becoming a sponsor again.
Sam

[Alex C]

Wow. Maybe he doesn't need the money anymore.

[Uncle Buck]

It is obvious that Sean has lost interest in this forum, and that your previous credit card cancellation caused him some inconvenience.

Did I say "thin-skinned"? No, I wouldn't say something like that.

[brianf]

I'm with Sam 100% on this one - I have had something similar happen to me.

I posted that a product from a household name of the tuba community that a number of people were looking for had finally arrived. Schlepparello deleted my post and sent me a nastygram. I have no idea who Schlepparello is - he lists no name on his member page - this is very strange especially for someone listed as a moderator. I said this was up to Sean, emailed twice and heard nothing. I feel that I am dealing with the black hole to no where.

Not a way to run an airline, that's why I have been in lurking mode for a while!

[bisontuba]

This is very strange--if folks want to be sponsors and are willing to pay money to do this, this should be very simple--Sean, why is this a problem? At least a response to these potential sponsors and to these potential money makers for you is the least they deserve. I would think you'd be encouraging more sponsors--again, why is this a problem?
mark

[Mike-ICR]

I noticed a "public apology" posted yesterday on this board and in the For Sale section and was a little surprised. Many of us have a stable of horns and sometimes need to thin-the-herd. Sam makes a living selling horns and hasn't used this site to sell many of them (if any). I don't think selling one horn (that isn't even a Gnageyphone) should be considered 'cashing-in' on the system. It seems to me there are more and more posts being deleted/edited or threads about it lately. Maybe this thread will be one of them.

[imperialbari]

This thread should not be turned against Schlepporello, who is a friend of mine, which is a guarantee that he is no crook, as I can afford being very selective in that matter. Very little research will give anyone his name and place him on the map. He is not big in production, but what he makes can be looked right through.

On the other hand I am not entirely happy with an absent person owning TubeNet. On one hand this board is the best of the low brass forums known to me, on the other hand I would find it more longtime durable if associated with an institution like a university, which took pride in hosting it. The sponsor system should be kept up to ensure that the very important stream of information from the suppliers on all levels kept coming.

I cannot know what has happened behind the scene, but something must have gone wrong when two one-man businesses run into problems. Sam is one of the very few still building Frankentubas from rescued material. Others can do that also, but have stopped because they cannot make a living out of that. I haven’t seen Sam flood the board with advertisements, and his production capacity hardly ever will allow for such flooding. Brian has been the one making the legacy of a tower person in the tuba world available to current generations of tubists. I never have been disturbed by him overdoing any salesmanship.

Klaus

[Uncle Buck]

This thread should not be turned against Schlepporello

Seconded. Schlepp's moderation of this site has been professional and admirable. Those of us who enjoy the site owe him a thanks that it still exists.

[MartyNeilan]

Another case of "The Absentee Landlord"?

Bingo. He has needed to sell this BBS to one of us for several years now.

BlokeNet?
BugNet?
SchleppNet?
TubePhant???

[pierso20]

I'm with Sam 100% on this one - I have had something similar happen to me.

I posted that a product from a household name of the tuba community that a number of people were looking for had finally arrived. Schlepparello deleted my post and sent me a nastygram. I have no idea who Schlepparello is - he lists no name on his member page - this is very strange especially for someone listed as a moderator. I said this was up to Sean, emailed twice and heard nothing. I feel that I am dealing with the black hole to no where.

Not a way to run an airline, that's why I have been in lurking mode for a while!

I've had a similar response, albeit I did rake an offense. However, it must be noted that just because someone is a moderator, doesn't mean they will make a correct decision or are vacant of having a rough day and taking it out on a post.

I do think that if people are being (dare I say) "harassed" to the point of feeling the need to making public apologies, then there is at least something that needs to be fixed.

I'm sure theres some regulars here who wouldn't mind being in "charge" of tubenet,

[Donn]

Sean feels it is only fair that if someone wishes to make a profit from this site, they should at least be willing to help out with the costs of operating it. Hence, the "Sponsors" program. And yes, I cannot make someone a sponsor, it isn't my place. But it is my position as a moderator entrusted by Sean to assist in policing his board.

I don't believe anyone would disagree with either of those points. The problem seems to be that combined with the neglect of the owner, a possibly over-zealous enforcement of the `profit' policy leaves us in a situation where highly valued members are getting treatment they don't deserve.

Everyone understands that the forum is something of a burden to its owner and moderator(s), and we're duly appreciative, but that alone, as an answer to the present complaint, just leaves the impression that someone missed the point.

[tubashaman2]

.

[iiipopes]

Sam is a good guy. Sam has offered. Sam does not take advantage of a position. Sam should be returned to his rightful honored place as a sponsor POST HASTE!

I enjoy Sam's ads. I may never be in a position either musically or monetarily to afford or justify one of his instruments, but they show progressive thinking, problem solving, and they're just really neat horns all the way around. The major tuba manufacturers would do well to study some of his designs and conversions.

[timdicarlo]

I can also vouch for Sam's credibility. I bought a horn from him over the summer and it was all around one of the most positive experiences I've had. The horn is excellent, but more importantly, Sam was genuinely more interested in whether the horn fit my personal needs and wants than in whether or not he got it out the door at the end of the day. This speaks volumes to the fact that he deserves Sponsor status on this forum; considering the nature of his business and the way he conducts it, I honestly can't think of anyone more suited for the title.

Just my two cents.Not sure it will have any bearing on the situation at all, but I hope it will help resolve the issue and/or speed the process along.

[WoodSheddin]

fixed

[WoodSheddin]

It is obvious that Sean has lost interest in this forum, and that your previous credit card cancellation caused him some inconvenience.

Did I say "thin-skinned"? No, I wouldn't say something like that.

nope

[WoodSheddin]

Another case of "The Absentee Landlord"?

Bingo. He has needed to sell this BBS to one of us for several years now.

What is your opening bid?

[WoodSheddin]

bloke "I believe Sean's comeback post was just a drive-by honking of your schnoz."

[rocksanddirt]

In addition, on a business such as this (regardless of how much or little $ is involved) the purchase price of the goodwill associated is very very difficult to evaluate in a vacuum, which posting a request like for a horn would be.

[WoodSheddin]

In addition, on a business such as this (regardless of how much or little $ is involved) the purchase price of the goodwill associated is very very difficult to evaluate in a vacuum, which posting a request like for a horn would be.

TubeNet is not forsale. If it ever does I might post in the For Sale section